Patient/caregiver was educated on pathophysiology of statis dermatitis as follows:
- Stasis dermatitis is a skin condition caused by inadequate drainage of blood or lymph and increased accumulation of fluid in any part of the body, usually the lower limbs.
- Blocked drainage with accumulation of fluid can result in extreme swelling of the involved body part.
- Swelling due to fluid accumulation can lead to intense stretching of skin, pain & tenderness, and weeping or oozing of fluid from the affected body site.
- Consistent swelling with stretching of skin and oozing of fluid onto the skin can result in inflammatory changes with redness and local elevation of temperature.
- Poorly treated stasis of fluid and chronic inflammatory changes in the skin can result in severe damage to the involved skin tissue.
- The involved skin can become thick and swollen from the inflammation, later progressing to death of skin tissue with breakdown and development of ulcers/wounds.
